Harry Potter and the Cursed Child extends booking

The upcoming production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, a new stage play based on the Harry Potter franchise written by Jack Thorne, based on an original new story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, has extended its booking in the West End after selling out performances in the first booking period within the first hour of going on sale.

Tickets for Parts I and II of the production went on sale to priority bookers at 11am on Wednesday 28 October, initially for the first booking period from 7 June to 19 September 2016, which sold out almost instantly. Following the demand, the second booking period was put on sale to 8 January 2017, which also sold out. The production is now booking to 30 April 2017.

A spokesperson from producer Sonia Friedman's office issued this statement:

"At 7 PM this evening over 175,000 tickets had been sold for the play, which is unprecedented for a theatre production. On Friday (30 October 2015), when general booking opens, to ensure customers are given the best possible chance to obtain tickets the producers will be opening up an additional booking period."

The play will open at the Palace Theatre in London's West End on 30 July 2016, following previews from 7 June 2016. It will feature a cast of over thirty, and is one play presented in two parts. Both parts are intended to be seen in order on the same day (matinee and evening), or on two consecutive evenings. It is the eighth story in the Harry Potter series and is set "nineteen years later".

The play, produced by Sonia Friedman Productions, Colin Callender's Playground Entertainment and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions, will be the first live action stage production of Harry Potter.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will be directed by John Tiffany, with set designs by Christine Jones, costumes by Katrina Lindsay, lighting by Neil Austin, music by Imogen Heap, sound by Gareth Fry and special effects by Jeremy Chernick.

Synopsis: "It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn't much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children. While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

Tickets will go on general sale on 30 October 2015. It has also been announced that four special preview performances have been planned for the end of May 2016 - further details to be advised.